Toy electric engine



Nov. 26, 1929. R. KOENIG 1,737,051

TOY ELECTRIC ENGINE Filed Aug. 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I gm 7 5 7 7 g /0 I/AO Nov. 26, 1929. R. KOENIG 1,737,051

TOY ELECTRIC ENGINE Filed Aug. 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WW/h Eff 0517f Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATl li l FATENT OFFICE REMUS KOENIG, OF TWO RIVERS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T METAL WARE CORPORA- TION, OF TWO RIVERS, WISCONSIN TOY ELECTRIC ENGINE Application filed August 9, 1928.

This invention relates to a toy electric engine.

Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of toy electric engine which is so constructed that it may be connected with the usual lighting system employing alternating current, and is provided with a transformer for reducing the voltage, a switch being provided in the secondary circuit for the manual control of the engine, so that when a child plays with the engine, he will not be endangered under any possible condition, as the low voltage side of the transformer is the only one leading to the contacts and to the 1 manually controlled switch.

Further objects of this invention are to rovide an engine so constructed that the transformer is positioned within a boilerlike shell, open top and bottom, to thus ven- Lilate the transformer, and in which a sin 'le,

simple type of casting is employed for the engine body and is secured to the base thereby eliminating any necessity for machining the base.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises a base plate 1 which may be provided with suitable legs and which carries an engine body 2. This engine body 2 revolubly supports the shaft 3, which carries the flywheel 4, and also can ries a pair of spaced electromagnets 5 which are positioned within a housing-like portion 6. This unit also carries an insulating block 7 which has a pair of ribs 8 through which contacts 9 project. These contacts are slid able within the apertures through the ribs 8 and are urged inwardly by means of the springs 10. They are adapted to engage con tacts carried by the lower end of the rock arm 11 which engages one or the other of the contacts as it rocks back and forth. Mo-

tion is imparted to the rock arm by means of Serial No. 298,480.

the linlr 12 which passes around an eccentric carried on the shaft 3.

lfhe shaft 3 is provided with a crank pin 3 at one end which is connected by means of link 1% with a lever 15. This lever 15 is, 1 r y, an armature and is located between he poles of the magnets 5. It is pivoted adacent its lower end, to downwardly proectin tongues 16 formed integrally with the 1 body 2. For example, the tongues my be integral with the box-like portion the engine body which carries the mag-v o, as shown most clearly in Figure 2. This 0 -l'i re body is provided with a top 1'? which, n turn, carries a cylinder-like mem- 1 our 1? into which tne link 1 1 passes.

To further simulate a steam engine, the device may be provided with a toy governor 19 connected by means of a belt with the shaft 3. The base plate 1 carries a boilerlilre shell 19. The base is open below the boiler, and the top of the boiler is surmounted by means of a chimney 20. The boiler-like shell is provided with a plurality of apertures 21 so that air may freely pass through the boiler-like shell and thus cool the transformer.

The base 1 is also provided with a manually operable switch 22 which is connected in the secondary circuit, as will hereinafter appear.

The transformer referred to above is in dicated by the reference character 23 and is, as stated, located within the boiler-like shell 19.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the transformer indicated generally by the reference character 23 has its secondary 21 connected in circuit with the magnets 5 and with the automatic contacts previously described and also in series with the manually operable switch 22.

The arm or lever 11 which constitutes the automatic switch lever is connected to one side of the switch 22. The relatively stationary contacts 9 are connected to opposite airs of the magnets 5.

It will be seen that as the lever 11 rocks first one pair of magnets is energized and thereafter the other, thus imparting a rocking motion to the armature and through the medium of the link 14:, rotating the shaft 3 and thus driving the flywheel. If desired, it is apparent that the shaft 3 may be provided with a small pulley 25 from which power may be taken.

It will be seen that a simple, easily c0nstructed electric engine has been provided by this invention, which is safe for operation by a child, and which has only the low voltage side of the transformer connected to the switch and to the contacts.

It will be seen also that the device is easily assembled, as the engine body and the associated parts may be assembled as a unit and thereafter secured to the base;

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to bedetermined as claimed.

I claim:

1. A toy electric engine comprising a base plate, an engine body, a shaft revolubly carried by said engine body, a flywheel carried by said shaft, a crank and eccentric carried by said shaft, an electromagnetic de vice having a movable armature connected by means of a link with said crank, contacts carried by said engine body and connected to said electromagnetic device,a roekingswitch lever cooperating with said contacts, and means for rocking said switch lever from said eccentric, said engine body and the parts carried thereby forming unit and said engine body being removably secured to said base.

2. A toy electric engine comprising a revolubly mounted shaft provided with a flywheel and a crank, a lever pivoted at one end and having its other end operatively connccted to said crank, electromagnets located upon opposite sides of said lever, an insulating block having a pair of spaced ribs, con- 'tacts connected to said electromagnets and slidably carried by the said ribs, a rocking 1e er cooperating with said contacts, and means driven from said shaft for rocking said last mentioned lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Two Rivers, in the county of Manitowoc and State of isconsin.

REMUS KOENIG. 

